When Dominick Capaldi retired after nearly 24 years as a police officer, his dream was to open his own sandwich shop, using recipes handed down from his mother.

Approximately five years ago, Capaldi along with his sons Brandon and Nick opened the doors to Mama Marie’s Italian Market in Pitman.

Brandon, 20, said Mama Marie’s has won Best Hoagie in Gloucester County four years in a row and is up for the title again this year.

“Maria is my grandmom,” Brandon said. “She passed down all the recipes. When I first started I didn’t know how to cook an easy over egg or broccoli rabe. But you get used to it.”

Nick, 19, loves working with food and with his family.

“I get to be creative and I like to experiment with food,” Nick said. “When we opened, Dad gave me a lot of creative room to do what I wanted with the menu.”

Brandon and Nick enjoy the business so much, they are planning to open their own shop.

“I’m going to Burlington County College for restaurant management and we are opening Marie’s Sandwich Bar in Haddonfield by the end of summer.”

Flavor — Mama Marie’s uses fresh Deitz and Watson meats, bread and rolls from Philadelphia and homemade sauces, dressings and condiments to make their signature sandwiches including paninis, diablos and wraps, in addition to the award-winning hoagies.

Brandon said not many delis in the area use sharp provolone and prisciutto on a sandwich.

“But if you use 99-cent ham, you’ll taste 99-cent ham,” he said.

Menu — One of the most popular sandwiches at Mama Marie’s is the Little Nicky which has prosciutto, provolone, capocolla and genoa salami, with roasted peppers.

Another favorite is the Angela, a vegetarian-style Italian sandwich with breaded eggplant, broccoli rabe and roasted red peppers.

Most of Mama Marie’s signature hoagie’s are named for family members or friends including the ham, cooked salami and American cheese sandwich called the “Bull” which is named for Brandon.

There are also hoagies called the Aunt Louise with roast pork, sharp provolone and roasted red peppers, the Cousin John with roast beef, turkey and American cheese and the Knuckle with sharp provolone, American cheese and roasted red peppers.

Mama Marie’s opens at 7:30 a.m and also offers breakfast selections including sandwiches with bacon, sausage, pork roll, ham and cheese; platters with hash browns, choice of meat and toast, and eggs any style; Western, bacon or veggie omelets with hash browns and toast; French toast and pancakes.

Dessert/Drinks — Brandon said Mama Marie’s has three bakers who provide fresh, homemade cakes and desserts for sale at the restaurant.

Atmosphere — With Frank Sinatra crooning from the speakers, entering Mama Marie’s is like stepping into an traditional Italian market, complete with Italian meats and cheeses on display in the cold case and photographs lining the walls.

The menu explains that Mama Marie’s was inspired by a mother and the delicious food she served.

“And with that, she handed down a tradition of Italian specialties that have been passed on for more than 90 years,” the menu reads. “Her hard working ability and determination to create delicious Italian sandwiches and specialties was passed on to us so that you will be able to get the best experience that we can offer.”

Hours — Mama Marie’s is open from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.